1 Loyalty in Cormac McCarthy's The Road and All the Pretty ...

B. Cercis TANRITANIR, Serdar TAKVA

ÇAKÜ Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi/ Journal of Institute of Social Sciences

Cilt/Volume: 8, Sayı/Number:2, (Kasım/November 2017): 1-11

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Loyalty in Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and All the Pretty

Horses

B. Cercis TANRITANIR1, Serdar TAKVA

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Abstract

Eco-fiction, plotting the connection between humanities and nature

and nature itself, is a literary study aiming to form an awareness

toward the natural world and its habitants. It covers either the

humanistic impacts on nature or a nature without the interruption of

human being. As it is impossible to assess human history without

nature, literature centers upon how nature affects the presence of

mankind. Additionally, it details what has occurred and could occur in

the future. Cormac McCarthy, voicing the significant connection

between the nature and human being, successfully demonstrates the

combination of science fiction and fantasy literature through the

novels he writes. He enables us to see what we cannot see and

discover the new dimensions of naturalistic world under the surface.

As the examples of eco-criticism, McCarthy’s novels The Road and

All the Pretty Horses thematize a post-apocalyptic world and a strong

desire to pastoral life respectively. In The Road, we witness the

persistent search and perseverance of a father and his son to be able to

survive in a wracked world. Likewise, All The Pretty Horses provide

readers with obstinate fidelity and determination to what is believed to

be true for the figures reflected. This study aims to uncover the common theme ‘’loyalty’’ as one of the key

elements to survive and reach an idealized life even though catastrophic

events are presented.

Keywords: Eco-fiction, Cormac McCarthy, Loyalty, The Road, All The

Pretty Horses, Post-apocalyptic, Pastoralism.

1Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi, Edebiyat Fakültesi, Van- TÜRKİYE,

E-posta: [email protected], yazar ORCID Numarası: 0000-0003-3432-2043 2Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi, Yabancı Diller Eğitimi Bölümü,TRABZON-TÜRKİYE

E-posta: [email protected], yazar ORCID Numarası: 0000-0002-3276-7922

mailto:[email protected]

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3432-2043

mailto:[email protected]

callto:0000-0002-3276-7922




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Cormac MacCarthy’nin Yol ve Tüm Güzel Atlar Romanlarındaki

Bağlılık Teması


Özet

İnsanın doğa ve doğanın kendisiyle ilişkisini temalaştıran eko-kurgu doğal

dünyaya ve habitatlarına karşı farkındalık uyandırmayı amaçlayan edebi bir

çalışmadır. Bu çalışma ya insanoğlunun doğa üzerindeki etkisini ya da

insaoğlunun etkisinini olmadığı doğayı konu almaktadır. İnsanoğlunun

tarihini doğa faktörü olmadan değerlendirmek imkansız olduğundan,

edebiyat doğanın insanoğlunun varlığını nasıl etkilediğine odaklanır. Aynı

zamanda, şu ana dek ne olduğu ve neler olabileceği ile de ilgilenir. Doğa ve

insanoğlu arasındaki önemli bağı dillendiren Cormac McCarthy, yazmış

olduğu romanlar aracılığıyla bilim kurgu ve fantezi edebiyatının sentezini

başarılı bir şekilde sunmaktadır. Göremediklerimizi görmemizi ve yüzeysel

gibi görünen doğal dünyanın farklı boyutlarını keşfetmemize olanak sağlar.

Eko- eleştirinin örnekleri olan Yol ve Tüm Güzel Atlar romanları sırasıyla

kıyamet sonrasıbir dünyayı ve pastoral yaşama duyulan güçlü özlemi

temalaştırmaktadır. Yol romanında baba ve oğlun yerle bir edilmiş dünyada

hayatta kalmak için göstermiş oldukları israrlı araştırma ve kararlılığa tanık

olmaktayız. Aynı şekilde Tüm Güzel Atlar, romanı okuyucularına romanda

yer alan karakterler için ideal olan şeye karşı inatçı kararlılığı ve bağlılığı

sunmaktadır.

Bu çalışma, katastrofik olayların meydana gelmesine ragmen, hayatta

kalabilmenin ve ideal yaşama ulaşabilmenin önemli yapı taşlarından olan

bağlılık temasını ortaya çıkarmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Eko-Kurgu, Cormac McCarthy, Bağlılık, Yol, Tüm

Güzel Atlar, Kıyamet Sonrası, Pastoral Hayat.




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Introduction Being Cormac McCarthy’s masterpiece, The Road contextualizes the

struggle of two unnamed protagonists’ efforts to survive in a barren, deserted

and demolished world. The novel portrays the post-apocalyptic humanity

whose values have been lost as a result of a couple of natural disasters such

as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and storms. The Road covers a set of

principles to be good guys and the father consistently teaches these

principles described as; ‘’don’t eat people, don’t steal, don’t lie, keep your

promises, help others and never give up’’. (Wielenberg, 2010: 4). While the

father is teaching the principles, the child is responsible for following them

in a world where the last remnants have lost morality. In the post-apocalyptic

world almost all the natural resources- like clean water and electricity- and

humanity do not exist anymore and the protagonists have very little with

them in order to stay alive. Though not clear enough, the world has been

devastated by a nuclear winter causing the father and his son to search for a

better life in the coast of the south. During the journey to south, all their

belongings are squeezed in a cart and they have nothing to do but to run on

limited amount of food and drink in the places covered with gray snow. Just

from the very beginning of the novel, McCarthy portrays how the world has

been struck by several disasters. Though the cities they encounter remind the

man of the life people once lived, they find no traces of former liveliness as

described in the book like; ‘’Ash moving over the road and the sagging

hands of blinds wire strung from the blackened light poles whining thinly in

the wind. A burned house in a clearing and beyond that reach of meadow-

lands stark and gray and a raw red mudbank where road works lay

abandoned’’. (p.4)

We are not exactly presented what has happened, yet we deduce that

McCarthy whispers the fact that everything we own- including even our

dreams- may go in a second and only the memories of the past go on

surviving. Human beings from their birth to deaths seek the real beauty as

well as humankind in the nature. It is clear that the nature reflected in The

Road is full of catastrophes nonetheless, the nameless heroes are having a

violent struggle so as to remain alive in the world in which people are

predating each other. The father, threatened by the road agents and being

wifeless, has only his son whose soul has been untouched by the brutality of

the darkness. The novel, despite the gloomy view, depicts loyalty proving

the light to survive.

Cormac McCarthy’s other novel titled All the Pretty Horses (1992) is his

sixth novel presenting the desire for a pastoral lifestyle. The novel is defined

as ‘’a modern day western’’ (Strausheim, 2011: 3) the chaos and violence




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are replaced by order and governmental system on the other hand, the ranges

once wild have been tamed and they are fenced by wires difficult to pass and

wild wolves, buffaloes have disappeared. The roads are dominated by

automobiles and it is nearly impossible to ride horses in the modernized

American society. Cormac McCarthy portrays a sixteen year old boy as the

victim of his divorced family and the changing environment. Because of his

limited knowledge about the life, the boy tries to experience life and find his

own way of life that is under the threat of industrialized society. In the

beginning, as the readers, we witness the sale of the ranch by the boy’s

divorced family leading the boy to travel to south as there is not anything left

to stay for. On horseback, John Grady and Rawlins set out for a new way of

life and determine their own destiny. In his article- Naturalistic Determinism

in the Border Fiction of Cormac McCarthy- Leitner views the young boy’s

decision as reactionary and a kind of defiance to the forces having the

potential to determine his identity (2008:24). During their journey, they are

accompanied by a young boy called Jimmy Blevins. The close relation

between the human being and the nature is explicitly reflected since three

boys face a lightning storm causing Blevins to strip off his clothes and

abandon his horse. ‘’ Blevins was picking his way barefoot along the wash,

carrying one boot. He looked up at John Grady. Where's your clothes at?

said John Grady. Washed away. Your horse is gone (p.55).

In the village of Encantada, the stolen horse is found that’s why, they

attempt to steal the horse claimed to belong to someone else. After their

attempt, they separate from Blevins and are pursued by a posse till they

arrive at a ranch run by Don Hector. The events in All the Pretty Horses

peak in the ranch as John and Rawlins find work and prove themselves

having the intuitive skill of understanding horses. John Grady dedicates his

life to horses and is given the responsibility of feeding them at the same time

falls in love with Alejandra. Although he is warned by Alejandra’s aunt-

Alfonsa- about the invalidity of romance his infatuation results in a complete

disillusionment since he is rejected in the end. John Grady and Rawlins are

reported by Don Hector who learns the illegitimate affair and they are sent to

prison where they have to fight in order to survive. Unfortunately, Blevins is

executed for having killed at least one of the residents of the town. Having to

protect themselves so as to live, Rawlins and Grady are exposed to violence

during their imprisonment. Later on, about to lose their hopes of freedom,

bribed by Alfonsa, the prison commander sets John Grady and Rawlins free.

As soon as Grady is set free, he decides to go back to the ranch where he

meets the foolishness of romantic dreams. Alejandra who has taken part in

modern society declines Grady’s proposal to set up a new life with him

which symbolizes the rejection of pastoral life. Feeling depressed, John




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insists on regaining the American horses back and gets them by taking the

captain as a hostage. John’s arrival to Texas results in another frustration as

he discovers that their ranch has been sold and his best friend- Rawlins- is

treating him as if he were a stranger. Like The Road, McCarthy fictionalizes

All the Pretty Horses as open ended for John Grady rides aimlessly to west

in the end. It is true that the novel provides the readers with pessimism,

violence, unfulfilled romance and gunplay but among them we are given

‘’Loyalty’’ as the hope to lead an idealized life.

Loyalty in The Road

Cormac McCarthy, describing the landscape hostile and disturbing by

stating; ‘’Nights dark beyond darkness and the days more gray each one than

what had gone before. Like the onset of some cold glaucoma dimming away

the world’’, (p.2) displays the struggle of the man, his and his son’s hopeful

journey towards south enduring irresistible hunger, freezing cold and

relentless rain. All the conditions of the ruthless world devastated by

earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and floods are making the life harder for the

man and his son’’. Not only is the landscape in the novel unbearably silent

and motionless—no plant or animal, except for a dog, seems to have

survived the nuclear holocaust’’ (Ibarrola, 2011: 3). The survivors are eating

each other and only the fittest have the chance to cope with the harsh

conditions to remain alive. In spite of the catastrophic presentation of the

world, McCarthy thematizes ‘’loyalty’’ as the milestone for the survival. The

Road, being a post-apocalyptic novel, successfully underlines the

commitment to moral values as the father and son never attempt to eat any

kind of human as well as non-human beings. Unlike the road agents and

other survivors, both man and son find it fairly immoral to eat other living

creatures just to survive. They are well aware of the fact that murdering

someone else is against what they really believe and humanistic values as

respecting the living rights of others are more significant than starvation.

Contrary to Strand’s claim that the persistent repetition of the truth of their

being ‘’the good guys’’ blurs the readers’ views that it is impossible for

humanity to survive, (2012: 8) it is apparent that the boy as the source of

light proves the survival of humanity even after the father’s death.

Additionally, the father views his son as a holy creature and is always fidel

to his mission to protect the sacred child. The vague image of God’s

presence exists in the mind of the father yet, he does not give up reminding

the existence of God both to himself and the boy. His belief in a sacred force

protecting the ‘’good guys’’ proves that God is still at work and the father is

loyal to his mission as McCarthy describes it ‘’ My job is to take care of you.

I was appointed to do that by God’’ (p.39). At first glance, the man’s role




6

could be evaluated as the responsibility of an affectionate father but

McCarthy praises the father’s continuous fidelity depicting the mother’s

weakness as she deserts both her husband and son for the fear that she will

be raped and eaten. The risk of being killed and eaten does not dismay the

man. What makes the one of the unprecedented ones is the bond originated

from the love between the father and the son and The Road ‘’is a unique

novel locating the basis for meaning in the father’s love for his son and the

love to the son is striking since it transcends the efforts to save the child

ignoring the brutal conditions’’ (Schaub, 2009: 153). The mission that is

thought to be given to the man is such an important one that it is emphasized

indispensable in the novel and the father devotes himself to his mission

regardless of the terribly portrayed circumstances. Whenever despair begins

to predominate the child, his father reminds him of the word he has given. ‘’

I don’t know what to do, Papa. I don’t know what to do. Where will you be?

It’s okay. I don’t know what to do. Shh. I’m right here. I wont leave you.

You promise. Yes I promise’’ (p.58).

The man remembers his wife but at the same time we witness how he

ignores his wife’s tragic end as it may lead him to despair completely.

Reality means giving up but so as to motivate the child for the sake of

carrying the inner fire for the continuity of civilization, the man is not

obsessed with what was experienced before. Although he has a great longing

for his wife, he dedicates himself to his son which is a strict commitment to

the goodness of the world and humanistic values. ‘’Okay. This is what the

good guys do. They keep trying. They dont give up’’(p.70). Although the

cause of the disaster, transforming the earth into a grayish and at the same

time barren desert, is thought to be climatic we conceive that it is human-

created. In this disastrous world, the man- as the protector of the boy- wants

his son to keep faith in the humanistic virtues. They have limited types of

belongings one of the most important of which is a pistol. The pistol- though

being ruinous- functions as a device to be loyal to individual morals. The

monstrous people rape each other and then eat their corpses to survive. For

this reason, the man warns his son to use the last bullet in order not to be

raped or tortured. He recommends the boy not to hesitate to fire the gun and

commit suicide should anyone intend to hurt him. By advising the usage of

the gun when necessary, McCarthy points out the nobility of putting an end

to one’s life instead of being tortured and raped. ‘’They sat on the

embankment and waited. Nothing moved. He handed the pistol to the boy.

You take it, Papa, the boy said. No. That's not the deal. Take it’’ (p. 93).




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Loyalty in All the Pretty Horses

Cormac McCarthy shapes his novel based on the protagonist-John Grady’s

experiences both in Texas and Mexico. He is an American believing that

each individual has the free will to decide upon his own fate. As a nature

lover, Grady’s life begins to change as soon as his grandfather is buried. He

goes to his father for advice after the burial but his father replies; ‘’ I don’t

think there is much you can do here’’ (p.9). His father’s reply is in fact ironic

since it attributes to John Grady’s helplessness as he has no options left.

Grady given the old saddle, is not able to finish his high school education

and feels that he has self-control over his life. Losing his family, home and

the ranch, John Grady sets about his journey leaving the painful extinction of

American pastoralism behind. Despite his young age, he longs for an

idealized rural life and hopes to find it in another country. He wants to own a

ranch in Mexico where he believes the old way of life still continues and not

distorted by modern life.

According to Bourne, John Grady, enthusiastically riding his horse and

accompanied by Rawlins, is making a great effort to return to ‘’mystical wild

landscape’’ (2009:120) by traveling to south. John Grady is the most

striking figure keeping his loyalty to what he really believes to be true. In all

phases of his life and journey, we observe his loyalty to his values despite

the obstacles he comes across. Firstly, as Grady and Rawlins are on their

way to Mexico, they coincide with another boy called Jimmy Blevins. At

first glance, Blevins does not arouse a sense of reliability and Rawlins shows

his reaction by not taking what he says into consideration in the very

beginning of their coincidental meeting. ‘’ You aint said what your all’s

names was, he said. You aint never asked. That aint how I was raised, said

Blevins. Rawlins stared at him bleakly and turned away’’ (p.35). Blevins is a

new companion terrified of a lightning, concealing in a ditch and losing his

horse and rifle. Despite the fact that it is the first time they have encountered

John Grady does not leave him alone and persistently does whatever he can

to help him find his horse. John Grady is not sure of Blevins’ friendship

nevertheless, he cooperates with Rawlins and steals the horse back even

though it causes his imprisonment in the future. As an indication of old and

rural life and opposition to modern life, neither Grady nor Rawlins intends to

leave each other and McCarthy puts forward this togetherness and strong

bond by providing his readers with the conversation between Grady and

Rawlins after their separation from Blevins.

What if it was you? It aint me. What if it was? Rawlins twisted the cigarette

into the corner of his mouth and plucked a match from his pocket and

popped it alight with his thumbnail. He looked at John Grady. I wouldn’t

leave you and you wouldn’t leave me. That aint no argument. (p.61)




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As a Bildungsroman, the protagonist- John Grady- heads out into the forests,

deserts travels down the rivers on horseback to find wilderness with his

friend Rawlins. During his journey, John and Rawlins pursue all their merits.

As they promised one another, even during their imprisonment they do not

abandon each other. Even though Rawlins had the chance to escape from the

prison, he did not run off the jail and their dependence to the friendship

outweighed freedom. The relation between the two young boys is beyond an

ordinary one and they prefer suffering instead of leading a free life.

Rawlins nodded. I could of run off from where they had me. It was just a

hospital ward. Why didn’t you? I don’t know. You think I was dumb not to

of? I don’t know. Yeah. Maybe. What would you of done? I wouldn’t of left

you. Yeah I know you wouldn’t. That don’t mean it aint dumb. (p.154)

Besides, John Grady employed by Don Hector to care the horses, form a

unique relation with the horses at the ranch which refers to his eagerness to

wild life. He has a developed talent to fulfill his duties in the ranch.

Generally speaking, John exhibits heroic features for his horsemanship,

physical endurance to pain and ability to doctor himself when he is injured.

Moreover, he is appreciated and dignified for his insistence to get their

horses back taking the captain as a hostage in Encantada and turning into a

criminal from an innocent boy. John Grady reclaims the American horses

and rejects to leave Mexico without them. The horses from the start of the

novel symbolize the young boy’s ever -lasting love to pastoral life and

strong connection to wildness in which he tries to find his real personality.

The protagonist risks his life once more when he demands the horses,

belonging to him and Rawlins, but without any hesitation he strives for his

virtues and brotherhood whose value cannot be questioned.

Rawlins' horse was in a mud barn in the lot behind the house. He spoke to it

and it lifted its head at his voice and nickered at him. He told the charro to

get a bridle and he stood holding the pistol while the charro bridled the horse

and then he took the reins from him. He asked him where the other horses

were. He stood looking down. John Grady told him that he had no more

patience and no more time and that the captain was a dead man anyway but

that he could still save himself. He told them that Blevins was his brother

and he'd taken a bloodoath not to return to his father without the captain's

head. (p.185)




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Eco-criticism as Baratta states; is benefitted by science fiction and fantasy

and eco-critical study enables individuals to reevaluate the nature-human

relation (2011:3). John, escaping from the modernized American society,

tries to construct a new life based on uncontaminated rural life. The efforts

of Grady to reform his identity is shaped by the nature itself. The effect on

the hero of the novel is visible throughout the whole novel and John Grady -

as a devoted boy to his ambitions- adheres to his goals and takes Rawlins’

horse to him. It is a fact that Grady has been unable to achieve the goal of

leading a rural life but the horses, symbolizing his dream of creating pastoral

ranch life, are indispensable for him. Grady was on the verge of being killed

during his attempt to get the horses back but he is portrayed such a dedicated

boy that he would rather have lost his life than given up his oath both to

himself and his friend. Hoping to find Rawlins as decisive as he was before

to build a natural life, Grady submits his horse and proves how a boy despite

his young age can devote himself to his dreams. The strong formation of

identity results from his travel through distances and Strausheim claims that

‘’journeys can from the basis of an identity’’ (2011:1).

He walked around him to get him in the light and looked at him as if he were

something rare. I figured you might want your old horse back, said John

Grady. I cant believe it. You got Junior with you? He’s standin down yonder

at the barn. Sum buck, said Rawlins. I cant believe it. Sum Buck. (p.208)

Conclusion

Cormac McCarthy, who has tempted his readers with a story of a father and

son in an post-apocalyptic world and a young boy who is able to live the life

of his choice respectively, is a visionary American novelist fictionalizing the

relation between nature and humanity and the ways to have a better

understanding of seeing the consequences of destruction both on the natural

world and humanity. In his eco-critical studies focusing on reestablishing the

connection between the reader and the natural world, McCarthy successfully

fulfills the goals of highlighting the importance of science fiction and

fantasy. As well. He is well aware of the fact that environmental writing and

eco-critical texts should be brought together with science fiction in order to

raise a new consciousness and a new thought. Accepted as science fiction

works, both The Road and All the Pretty Horses introduce us new worlds we

are not familiar with. Although the worlds given are fantasized, the contents

of the novels draw inspiration from the real world and the reality

surrounding us. That’s why, what we are presented is not utopic and new

thoughts are plotted in the works. The Road exemplifying the post-

apocalyptic life handles the continuous struggle of a father and son to find




10

more livable place thought to be in south. Though surrounded by road

agents, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, rains and gray ashes, the man and

the boy do not lose their values and keep on being loyal to them. Especially

the man is stick to the humanistic virtues by not murdering anyone and

educating his son despite the disastrous environmental conditions. Believing

to the rebirth of humanity, they never eat anyone, try to help people and

consider death in case of being raped. Like The Road, All the Pretty Horses

tackles the hopeful search of a sixteen year old boy for a more livable life.

The opening scene involves the protagonist’s watching a train characterizing

the industrial invasion of pastoral life. Losing the ranch inherited by his

grandfather and having a divorced family, John Grady sets off to have an

idealized pastoral life in south. John Grady like the man and the son in The

Road is pretty loyal to what he believes to be true. He sticks to his

humanistic values by not deserting his friends alone and keeping his oath to

regain what he possesses. He supports Blevins in his efforts to get his horse

back, dedicates himself to his work as a horse tamer to regain his dreams. At

the end of the novel, John loses the ranch, his lover and his father. Moreover,

he is estranged from his former friend Rawlins and witnesses Blevins’

murder. Throughout the novel, despite all the disasters he experiences,

ranging from killing to losing his belief in romance, the boy never quits his

morals and ideals. John is portrayed as a mature man in the end riding

aimlessly but he is still loyal to his ambition to have a pastoral life. Both

novels do not provide us with a precise ending and our curiosity is not

satisfied as the boy in The Road meets a new family and John Grady in All

the Pretty Horses heads west alone but in both cases we are still in the

opinion that their loyalties to their values have not changed. That is, the

father and son and John Grady are the figures representing fidelity to their

humanistic dignities. McCarthy fosters us witness the individualistic features

of the figures and their faithfulness to humanitarian facts in the worlds in

which there is blood, violence and blasted romance.

REFERENCES

Ibarrola-Armendariz, A. (2011). Cormac McCarthy’s The Road:

Rewriting the Myth of the American West. European journal of

American studies, 6(6-3).

Baratta, C. (Ed.). (2011). Environmentalism in the Realm of Science Fiction

and Fantasy Literature. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.




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Bourne, A. (2009). " Plenty of signs and wonders to make a landscape":

Space, Place, and Identity in Cormac McCarthy's Border Trilogy. Western

American Literature, 44(2), 108-125.

Leitner, W. H. (2008). Naturalistic determinism in the border fiction

of Cormac McCarthy (Doctoral dissertation, uga).

McCarthy, C. (2006). All the Pretty Horses. The Road. E- Book. Acc.

Date. 10.04.2016

Schaub, T. H. (2009). Secular Scripture and Cormac McCarthy’s The

Road. Renascence, 61(3), 153-167.

Strand, L. (2013). The Road at the End of the World-Sentimentality

and Nihilism in the Journey through the Post-Apocalyptic World of

Cormac McCarthy’s Novel" The Road".

Strausheim, C.F.S. (2011). ‘’ Men Come to the End of Something:

Udentity Creation and Border Symbolism in Cormac McCarthy’s

Border Trilogy’’

Wielenberg, E. J. (2010). ‘’God, Morality and Meaning in Cormac

McCarthy’s The Road’’.

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